In which we enter the unknown

AN: Things are moving along steadily. Enjoy the chapter, folks! Guest Replies are at the end, due to there being a few of them :) And I apologise again for them making the chapter look longer than it is.

Note that some dialogue is borrowed from the movie to keep things accurate. Anything you don't recognise is mine.

-notes at the end-

I don't hang around to check whether Frankie's heard or listened.

By this time, the newly awake girl is at the top of the Tree and a crowd has gathered beneath it – all the guys who were closer to the Medi Tent when the shout went up.

I slow up as I draw close, and then I stop entirely as a rock goes flying from the top of the tree.

It sails in a deadly curve and thumps the ground, leaving a dent in the grass, worryingly close to Stan's foot. I watch his eyes widen.

"We need cover!" Tim yells out. Another rock flies straight for his head, and he's saved in the knick of time by Henry, who shoves him down.

"Go away!" the girl's voice yells, hidden from view by the platform.

But we keep a lot of rocks up there – mainly for Glader Games after pack up time, but also as a rudimentary alert system, should it ever be needed.

The girl won't be running out anytime soon.

Winston races up next to me, holding a flat square of wood, probably a lid taken from a crate. He's holding it over his head as he looks around.

"She woke up, then?"

"What gave it away?" I ask dryly. Too much has happened today, and I'm too tired to be scared or worried, so now I'm just amused. I remember being terrified; surrounded by all the boys and having no memories of my own, so I can sympathise with her, but I'll do it later.

Eric is hunkered down underneath a huge red metal bucket of some kind and Frypan darts around, apparently having a great time, hiding under a domed metal lid.

"What's going on?"

Newt jogs up to the scene, eyes darting from the crowd of ducking Gladers to the rocks launching from the top of the Tree.

"She woke up," Stan supplies.

Newt opens his mouth to reply, and instead reaches out and pulls me sideways towards him just as a rock slams into the ground where I was stood. It doesn't bounce, and it leaves a decent dent in the grass.

"So many concussions," I whine quietly, watching everyone getting pelted and still wondering if it's healthy to find it hilarious.

Stan snorts.

Newt just gives me a look that is somewhere between 'Really? Must you?' and something that's a lot more significant.

When I realise what I said, I slam my mouth shut, biting into my lower lip.

I can practically see the memory whirling behind his eyes. It sparks there, burning, like kindling set to a fire.

His own concussion. The day it happened.

He does remember.

I try to brush that aside, even though I can suddenly feel my heart pulse in my chest. It's really not a priority right now. I try to ignore the sensation. Instead I give him an expectant look.

Newt seems to let it go, too, and take my expression as the 'what are you going to do about this?' that I'd intended. He sighs.

I watch another rock hit the ground not far from where I'm now standing and hurriedly move backwards, out of direct range, where I can laugh without being knocked out.

Newt moves forwards, biting back a smile, Winston not far behind, but Stan stays where he is.

"Leave me alone!" The girl shouts.

"Hey!" Gally stands straight up, face fixed in anger and he points upwards. "Throw one more of those things and I'll-"

A rock collides with the top of his head and he buckles.

The timing is perfect.

Tim darts over to cover him with his lid.

"Go away!" she shouts again.

"Hey, what happened?"

Thomas appears between Gally and Frypan. I can see Chuck stood off across the field, laughing himself silly. Minho, Jeff and Clint are slowly making their way over.

"Just duck!" Frypan says behind his lid.

Thomas' weight dithers; he looks like he still wants to question it.

"I don't think she likes us very much," Newt says. He looks like he's on the verge of finding this quite amusing, too. Winston's protecting the both of them from a head injury with his crate lid.

"What do you want from me?" The girl yells.

More rocks fly down.

Zart leaps away from one that nearly breaks his toes and another clangs off of Eric's bucket.

"Hey, look, we just want to talk," Thomas tries.

"I'm warning you!"

A rock very nearly hits Thomas in the head, but he's able to dodge it at the last second.

Frypan crouches low, raising his domed lid and scurries past them calling, "Take cover, ya'll, take cover."

She seems to be shoving handfuls of rocks off the platform now.

And then Thomas seems to get an idea.

"Whoa, hey- hey, wow –It's Thomas," he shouts over the chaos. "It's Thomas!"

The rocks stop in an instant.

Everyone slowly stands straight, lowering their lids.

Of course.

The only name she knows.

The girl peers over the edge. I step forward with the others, all cautiously gathering at the base of the Tree again.

It's just possible to see the wary, doubting blue eyes and the tangled black hair from the distance.

She doesn't say anything. Thomas says he'll come up to her and she withdraws silently, too.

He climbs the ladders, and a hum of voices start at the top, but it's too far to hear the words. And then Gally calls up.

"What's going on up there?"

Thomas looks a little bit hopeless.

"Is she coming down?" Newt asks.

No. She's not coming down. Not right now.

Newt looks a little resigned as he turns everyone away, even though walking away in the first place is a show of some kind of trust.

"Is this what all girls are like?" Fry asks as he backs up. I get the impression he's remembering my unplanned escape that involved his goose.

But gradually, they all obey and head off to finish their chores – even Gally who looks a sight more ticked off than usual.

At least his head's fine.

I'm pretty sure it's harder than any rock around here.

…

I make my way back to the Medi Tent – I saw Clint and Jeff on the field, so Alby's been alone, at least while the girl was drop-bombing everyone.

Clint and Jeff follow me in.

"Whoa," I say when I look at the pair of them. "What happened to you?"

Jeff's left eye is a bit swollen, the skin slowly bruising around a small wound on the side of his brow. Clint has a red mark across his cheekbone that's made his eye a little squinty.

"Her," Clint mutters, gently prodding his face.

"What happened?" I ask more generally.

Jeff moves to the crates and pulls out some of the supplies. He and Clint set about putting some salves on their injuries as they explain.

"One second she was sleeping and Jeff was watching her," Clint starts. "Next, I hear Jeff yell out, and then there's this noise. When I got to her section, she was already up. Threw the white shirt she was wearing at Jeff and pushed him into the table."

"She shoved hard, too," Jeff adds. "Woke up, saw me there, flipped out. She shot across and threw one of the jars at me first. By the time Clint showed up, my head was pounding."

"I tried to calm her down at the door. She just punched me, pushed me to the wall and ran past us. We saw her head out to the field, and by then the others were on her, so I figured we might as well try and get Thomas. I mean…she seemed to recognise him, even if he says he doesn't know her."

"You guys are okay, though?"

They both nod. Their injuries are minor, honestly; just some bruising and a small cut on Jeff, but it's good to know anyway.

"Maybe you should have been here," Clint ponders absently.

I bite my lip.

I'd briefly wondered about that when they said they had it handled earlier, but I'm kind of glad I wasn't around. Not only does it sound like she'd have gone through anyone she had to, but even unconscious, she intimidated me a bit.

Whoever she is, she looks around my age, and is strikingly beautiful. But it's more to do with her being a she. At first, I was intimidated by being in a place just home to boys. But times change, and now I feel unsettled that I'm not the only girl.

Yes, I can appreciate the irony.

"Don't think I'd have done much good," I say instead. "When you're scared, even another female face may not help. I'll never know, but I don't think seeing a girl in the crowd when I got here would have stopped me running."

"That's true," Jeff says.

And just as he finishes speaking, there's a horrible keening noise from around the partition.

"Alby," Clint says.

We all race around to him.

"Get Newt," Clint says to Jeff.

I feel my eyes widen as I look at him.

I've seen two boys stung. Seen two of them shout nonsense and go mad. I've seen two banished.

But I've not watched the poison spread through someone over the course of a day, slowly sinking into their minds and wreaking havoc on their thoughts and memories.

Alby's deteriorating, and fast. The tremors have moved into full body spasms and he seems to be seizing every few minutes, his temperature burning him up from the inside out. The ties are strong, keeping him down, but he's fixed against them, still semi-unconscious and trying to scrape in breaths as the black veins snake across his chocolate-coloured skin.

Clint can't get him to take any more of the berry liquid to bring back the sedation; he's not awake enough, or not sane enough any more.

It takes just a couple of minutes – both of us helplessly trying to calm Alby – before Jeff ducks back through with Newt on his heels.

Newt looks grim, but he's focused as he listens to the report and looks on his oldest friend.

"Doors are closing any minute," Clint says quietly. "What do we do?"

Newt swallows, fingers sweeping across his mouth. "The Council never reached a decision," he says quietly. "How long?"

Clint shakes his head. "Hard to tell. He's probably already gone here-" he taps a finger against his temple "-I mean, we know the poison won't exactly kill him…"

I remember being told about Stephen – the first boy to be stung. Back before they knew what the Changing was, or how it worked, and they had kept him locked up for days, trying to help.

I shudder.

Thomas bursts around the partition.

"Alby," he half gasps. "Newt. You gotta take a look at this. They came up with Teresa. Two of them, I think – well…I mean, it could save him-"

His words come out in a frantic stream, something a little desperate flickering behind his eyes. He holds out two small silver vial cartridges. Electric blue liquid shows through a long bubble window in the sides, looking like a spirit level.

Newt, looking wary, takes one, turning it over between his fingers.

"W.C.K.D," he mutters. "Again."

I frown.

Again?

"Well?" Thomas asks.

Its only at this point, Thomas going quiet, that I realise the girl has followed him in. Apparently she's called Teresa.

"We don't even know what this stuff is," Newt says practically. "We don't know who sent it, or why it came up here with you-" he gestures with it lightly in Teresa's direction, and I get the impression he's still unsure about her. "I mean, for all we know, this thing could kill him."

Thomas fidgets, but his expression solidifies in the next heartbeat.

"He's already dying. Look at him," he says. His voice isn't raised. It's sincere. "How could this possibly make it any worse?"

Newt's eyes turn to the pallet where Alby still rasps in breaths. The black veins reaching out from the sting on his ribs pulse in the dim lantern light.

I realise belatedly that the sun has finally dropped below the wall. The sky gets dark quickly now. The Doors will already have closed.

"Come on, it's worth a try," Thomas says, softer.

Newt's expression flickers; his thoughts fly along, all weighing the decisions and their potentials before he says, "Alright. Do it."

He holds out the vial. He's not happy, but he's firm about the decision. I think he has more blind faith in Thomas than even he knows.

I hold my breath, even though I can't see a better option. They say 'better the Devil you know than the Devil you don't'…but in this case, we're willing to risk the unknown. In this glade, we don't know of anything worse than the sting.

Thomas takes the cartridge and circles around to Alby's side.

Everyone gathers closer.

His mistake is to hesitate.

Alby looks up for one second, and the moment his eyes land on Thomas, his right arm breaks the ties on it and he fists the boy's shirt, hauling him close with madness and fury etched into his face.

"You shouldn't be here – you shouldn't be here!"

It's the last lucid thing he says. His breath rattles out and he shakes Thomas in his tight grip as we all dart forwards to try to pry them apart. He's strong, and his grip doesn't give until the moment Teresa snatches the vial from Thomas' hand and brings it down on Alby's chest with a single-minded focus.

There's a hissing noise as it injects through the skin.

Alby's spine stiffens and he collapses back on the pallet, breath rushing out as he goes still. His arms fall away from Thomas, who scrambles upright.

Everyone's harsh breathing fills the hut for a moment.

"Well…that worked," Jeff says, sounding doubtful.

Has it worked, or has it made it worse?

How can we tell?

"Okay, from now on, someone stays here and watches him around the clock," Newt says, rattled.

Good call.

Right now, we have no way of telling what effect that cartridge will have. It could have made it worse – maybe an adrenaline rush that could allow him to break free of the restraints? Or speed up the madness? Or even fuse with the poison to make it fatal…

I swallow.

It's been easier to think positive, despite being trapped, in all the last five months than it has been in just the last five days.

Things are changing too fast.

Gally steps around the doorway. His eyes sweep across the room, from Alby's silent body, to Newt's grim expression, and then over to Thomas.

"Hey," he says, drawing everyone's attention. "Sundown, Greenie. Time to go."

Oh, I think. The Pit. One night of punishment.

Thomas looks around to Newt, but he just looks back at him impassively. Teresa's head turns to Thomas with something like mild panic.

No one moves to intercept as Thomas walks around Clint and out of the hut with Gally at his back.

"We'll watch him for now," Jeff says. "If he does wake up Eva won't be strong enough to hold him down."

I refrain from saying that apparently neither of them were strong enough to keep Teresa down, either. Instead I look over at her.

"Teresa, right?" I ask.

She nods warily.

She only knows Thomas, who's been called away, and it's easy to see she's still a little scared of what's going on.

"I'm Eva. This is Jeff, Clint and Newt." They all give her small nods. "Are you injured at all?"

She shakes her head. "No. Where are you taking Thomas?"

"He went into the Maze today," Newt says before I can reply. "And it's against our rules. He's in the Pit for one night."

I glance up at him, and then back at Teresa. "He'll be fine," I say. I get the idea that inviting her to sit and eat supper with all of us will be a bit too much to ask, though.

"Why don't you stay here with Clint and Jeff?" I suggest, looking over to see if they're okay with this. "I'll bring back some food for you guys. They should be able to explain what's going on."

"Thomas told me," she says, but she doesn't protest the idea.

I stand up off my stool, feeling tired. Newt glances over at me then faces Teresa.

"They should be able to help if you have any questions," he says. "And try to get some rest. I can't speak for the Maze, but with us you're safe." He nods to the two Med-Jacks. "We'll be back with some food."

Then he tilts his head, looking at me. I get the picture, and we both leave the hut.

…

"Can I ask you something?" I ask, when we're in the rapidly gathering darkness outside.

Newt glances over at me. I take that as a yes.

"W.C.K.D. You said 'again', when you read it. What's that about?"

Newt falters, but after a quick scan around, resumes his pace.

"They were the letters stamped on that thing," he says, nodding back towards the Medi Tent. "But we've seen them before."

"On the stuff the Box sends up once a month," I say, filling in the gap. "So, what? The creators who put us here sent up the cure – or whatever that is – too? That's not a hard guess."

"Not just that," Newt says, and his voice is very quiet. "Thomas and Minho went back into the Maze earlier. They took Fry, Zart and Winston with them."

For a second, I'm surprised that the others went – they know the rules – but then the feeling dies in my chest. The rules are breaking apart, and Thomas' presence has started a split through the Glade; those who believe he's okay; that he's going to get us out, and those who think he'll destroy everything and us along with it.

"They made it back just after Gally called the Council Meeting," Newt continues. "We were trying to work out what to do with Alby when they turned up – that's why the subject got dropped. But they found something when they went back to the dead Griever."

"Something not good," I guess. "Going by the look on your face."

He stops. I stop next to him.

The sky is dark, and halfway between the Medi Tent and the Mess Hall in the centre of Homestead, there's no one around. We're two shadows against the tree line.

"It's something mechanical; some kind of technology; like a camera, or a tracker or something. But there's a number seven in this little digital display, and it was stamped with those same letters – W.C.K.D."

"Inside a Griever?" I check. My voice sounds hollow to my own ears. Newt nods once.

It's not something I'd ever thought that much about before. We were put here – trapped here. Grievers existed in the Maze. They weren't two concepts that ever overlapped in my mind until now. I guess they kind of should have.

But despite not really considering it, as I feel the horror settle over my heart, there's no shock or surprise to accompany it.

Newt's expression is dark as he watches me put it together.

"Someone made the Grievers," I say, knowing it's true. "To test us. And to keep us here."

…

Nearly two hours later, back in the hut for the night, and my mind is still locked on this new discovery.

What is the purpose of this? Trapping a whole bunch of teenagers in a small space, and unleashing man-made creatures designed to kill them from the inside out?

The puzzles without answers turn over in my head, only adding to the exhaustion I already feel, thanks to the sleepless night before. I'm actually thankful for it when I hear Newt duck into the shared hut and call my name.

Alby never exactly makes a racket, but even so, the hut feels quiet and empty without him.

"Eva?"

"Here," I reply, moving around my partition. "What is it?"

Newt rubs the back of his neck agitatedly as he heads into his section, shrugging out of his harness as he goes.

I frown.

There's a kind of frantic tension in his shoulders and he seems strung out. He's seemed a little withdrawn since we left the Medi Tent after Alby reacted to the cartridge.

"What's wrong?" I ask instead.

He looks up. "Can I just…Okay…Bloody hell- I need…"

And somehow, though I'm not sure how exactly, I think I get it.

He just needs someone to talk to and vent to, but he's gotten so used to being the person everyone looks to for answers and guidance, that I think he's forgotten how to ask.

So I walk past him, feeling his eyes on me, and drop onto the low crate in his room, folding my legs underneath me. "Start talking," I say gently.

His breath rushes out, and for a second he stares into the wall, eyes turbulent as he tries to organise his thoughts. Then he turns to me.

"I just don't know what I'm doing," he says. His voice is tinted with something frenzied and things start pouring out. "Things are changing, going wrong; the whole system is just…Gally's going to lose it, we had to banish Ben – Ben… and Alby…I may have just killed him, I've got no clue what that stuff does. I'm so bloody tired. I hate having to trust WCKD with our lives when it's clear they don't really give a klunk if we survive or not!

"And Thomas! I made him a Runner. How can I do that – how can I send a Greenie out there to do the same thing that I nearly…"

His voice cracks and the side of his fist rams into the support beam of his hammock. His shoulders curl forwards and his breathing is loud in the sudden silence.

"Hey," I say, quietly, when he doesn't continue. "For someone who has no idea, you're doing a damn good job. No one really knows, but you're being smart, and you're doing things for the right reasons, and that's all anyone can expect of you."

He draws away from the wall, unconvinced, but taking deeper breaths.

"Thomas was right," I carry on, not ready to touch on Ben just yet. "Alby was dying anyway; or worse. And yeah, maybe we have to rely WCKD for some things, but we don't trust them with our lives. We trust each other. Alby trusts you."

And so do I.

I want to say that, too, but the last thing I want to do is add to the weight he already shoulders.

"And as for Thomas…" I remember all too clearly that expression on his face the first time he was put on that farce trial. "He wants to run, Newt."

"I know," Newt replies, his voice subdued.

And somehow, I think I get that, too.

Newt knows Minho, knows how strong he is. And he knew Ben and Doug and Justin, too. In fact, barring Minho, who was one of the earliest Runners, all of them were in the Glade for some time before their job role changed.

But Thomas is so new to this world – to everything that it involves – and at the same time, so curious, hopeful and blindly proactive. It only makes sense that Newt will worry more for him.

The more hopeful and optimistic you are, the more crushing the disappointment and fear. And either of those things alone could drive someone to extremes.

"The Maze breaks people," Newt says. His voice is low.

He's talking about himself, that much is blatantly clear.

"Maybe," I say. "But it didn't break you."

He shoots me a look, something strange in his expression. He doesn't believe me.

"You're one of the lucky ones. You are," I insist, when he looks sceptical. "You jumped, and you broke your leg; you got a limp, but you kept your heartbeat. Newt, you kept your life.

"You changed your mind. That doesn't make you broken; that makes you strong."

I hear him draw in air, and hear it waver past his lips.

I don't know if anyone's ever told him this, but they should have.

"Thomas wants to run," I say again. "Even if you told him about your leg, it wouldn't change that."

His expression has relaxed a little. I don't know if it's what I said, or just whether being able to let all this out has helped. "How do you know?" he asks, curious.

And I think he already knows what I'll say, but it's something he had to ask.

"Because he's already afraid," I say. "He already knows what he's risking." And I shrug a little. "I knew, but I still went. I didn't do it to spite you or to hurt you-"

"I know that-" Newt says over my words.

"I did it," I continue, as though he hasn't spoken. "Because someone had to. Because Minho needed me to.

"Someone has to go, or none of us ever will."

This is something we both already know, with a bit too much clarity. But saying it is sometimes necessary.

I slide off the crate, happier now with the more relaxed, if exhausted set to Newt's shoulders that I can all too easily sympathise with.

"Try to sleep," I say, softly, approaching him.

The hut feels quieter than ever in the wake of our conversation.

"Will you?" he asks, and though there's a slight darkness to his tone, it comes across as curious rather than caustic.

I have better chances than he does tonight. Ben's loss hit me hard but I can't begin to imagine the weight on Newt while Alby's fate hangs in limbo. It's his best friend.

I shrug lightly again, now standing directly opposite him. I wonder if I'd break apart if I touched him, or if that would hold me together. "I'll try," I say, and my voice comes out quieter than I'd planned. "It's all any of us can really do."

In just the last two days, it seems like a full night's sleep is too much to ask.

Newt gazes at me for a moment. In the shadow of the hut, his eyes are impossibly dark and I can't read everything in them. He swallows, and then he nods.

On impulse, I gently touch his shoulder as I move past him. My voice is a whisper, "Try."

"Eva," he calls me back before I reach the doorway, and I'm not prepared for the way my name sounds on his tongue, whispered into the dark. In each of our words, it feels like we both have something else to say, but it's too late and we're too tired and there's too much else already to think about.

It can wait. Newt's voice is a whisper, like mine, "Thanks."

INFO

1. Teresa's introduction scene should be very familiar. Its unaltered from the film, but mostly there - if added to - because I feel its important to introduce her in the same way here as she is in canon. Obviously the perception of the scene is shifted just slightly. This ties in to Clint and Jeff being a bit beaten up. I'm pretty sure they have those injuries in the film, but it's hard to tell with the lighting. If not, I know the commentary at least talks about it, but the idea was that Teresa had overpowered the two of them in some way to get out.

2. Again, the scene in the hut with Alby, Thomas and Newt is largely the same, though longer than the scene in the film. This is another moment I feel is important, for many characters. Even while crazed, its important for Alby because it concerns his fate (though I find it fascinating to note he gets no real choice in it, and the injection is given without consent. That's another topic). Its important for Thomas because this takes a step forwards in their trust in him. Its important for Newt, because its a decision that he has to make and find peace with, regardless of what happens, and with this, he's choosing to trust Thomas. Its a step in their personal dynamic, too. For Teresa, she gets a glimpse at the familial connection between the boys, and how they handle themselves. Eva, Jeff and Clint are semi removed observers. So its important to see the shift in dynamics.

3. This is the moment where Eva finds out what Thomas and Minho discovered already, and when she makes the connection that Grievers don't just happen to torment them; that they were created for the sole purpose of tormenting them. Its a big difference. And its a revelation for her, for all of them, because they've never seen a Griever and lived to tell, so they've never had a real idea of what they are. So while you and I know them already, the Gladers are still putting together clues right now.

4. And it kind of leads into her conversation with Newt. They both have a lot on their minds but Eva is puzzling it out herself. Newt tries really hard to be strong for everyone else, but given he's under a lot of stress, having just made a decision on Alby's fate, and Thomas' in one day, it makes sense he'd crack and want to talk, so he turns to the person he trusts most next to Alby to be honest and unbiased with him.

5. And finally, yes, Newt does remember. At least...Eva's sure he does, even if he hasn't confirmed it. And she is pretty good at reading him now. But there's a lot on everyone's shoulders, and a conversation like that just has to wait. Sorry...

Sorry for the lack of a teaser...Don't want to spoil much in the next chapter :)

Guest Replies

Nutmeg: Haha, you can hit the refresh as much as you like! Glad you liked the chapter! As for your questions:

Why not have Eva run? There's a lot of separate parts to this answer, so hang on. Firstly, Newt doesn't like the idea of Eva going, even if he'd never ask her not to. But Minho is very aware of it, so he'd never ask her, knowing it would bother Newt when others can go. This is a bit of a recurring circle of friends all wanting the best for each other. Secondly, the Banishing affected Eva, and the boys knew that, so I figure more than a few of them, Minho included, would have shied away from asking her to go back in the Maze so soon after. She probably would have gone with them; wanting to help and being able to put aside her grief, but they wouldn't have wanted to ask it of her. Thirdly, it was just down to circumstance.

There's two separate times they could have asked her to go. In the first, Minho and Alby go to where Ben was stung. The Banishing was fresh for Eva, which is one reason, but also, this decision was made between Alby, Minho and Newt either the night before, or in the early hours. Alby wanted to go because it's the first time it's happened in the day, and he generally feels responsible. Minho goes to lead the way. Taking anyone else just means more people can be lost. The second time, Minho gathers a group to go to the dead Griever. This is more spur of the moment, and I personally believe Minho to be a little bit perceptive with it. First, he may have realised Newt didn't leave the Infirmary and assumed he was talking to Eva, so left them to it. Second, more importantly, he deliberately rounds up Keepers – Winston, Fry and Zart – perhaps knowing that they'd have the best standing in the Glade when someone kicked off a fuss about their rule breaking (Gally's predictable like that). So I hope that helps explain it a bit better. Looking back, I didn't really cover that, but it's actually a good question to raise. Just a little complex in my mind, too :)

As for Eva and Teresa…yes, they will meet properly but as for forming a bond; bear in mind that they're only there a few more days before the escape. While Eva is friendly, she doesn't let people in straight away, and Teresa seemed (to me) to be more guarded still. So we'll just see how that goes. And lastly, for your other review – Honestly, there are just some things that don't occur to Eva at all, and cutting her hair is one of them. At this point, it's sadly that simple.

Athio: First, I completely understand not wanting to share an e-mail. I thought I'd ask, but of course you shouldn't if you aren't comfortable. Sadly I can't message on pinterest without an account myself, so I'll have to stick to semi-condensed replies here (and no, you really don't want to see a long winded one!)

Everyone is curious about the Eva/Teresa dynamic, but for now, all I can really say is 'wait and see'. And there will be some notes on it when the time comes :) And while Eva doesn't see as much of the Thomas/Minho/Newt dynamic as I'd like to explore, I did try to bring it in, because I love it and it's relevant. I'm glad Eva's comment about Alby got you, though, because his different treatment caught me the first time I saw the film. They're breaking their own rules. Part of the fun I had with this story is the gritty reality and consequence of humanity. How Newt now feels as a leader, and how he's going to cope with that come under the same thing. I honestly don't think any of the boys doubt Newt, or would be all that disturbed by the change of leadership; Alby and Newt have sort of unofficially been co-leading for a long time, but I do think Newt has all those doubts internally targeted. I don't think most Gladers 'side' with Gally. Some of them do have more faith in him, perhaps because they can tell Newt doubts himself, or because they don't believe in Thomas (who kind of becomes a driving force), but many just remain behind because of their own fears, not because they believe in someone else.

And as for your second review: Maslow's hierarchy is fascinating. As I said, I gave only part of a very simplified version, but it was just to back up a point. I'm all about realistic people, and that does mean paying attention to basic psychology and physiology. As for how you'd classify the story, I always say it's up to the interpretation of the reader, its just that personally I don't see it as a love story or a romance. As you said, though Eva and Newt have a lot of 'screen time', very little of that is dedicated to anything above platonic and the others are involved to a huge extent (If Ben hurt a lot more this time around, that's good; I wanted to build on these characters and make you care about them). And I do think the rarity of their quiet moments does bring something more to them.

I'm glad you kind of get where Thomas' head is at with that conversation, now. And on the topic of Eva not following Thomas into the Maze, I know I said that its important for Thomas to do it alone, regardless of an OC being around, but to expand (as you asked), its more about Minho. Minho's faith and support of Thomas really begins that night, because this Greenie, in a single, stupid, suicidal act, not only saved his life, but Alby's, changed all their rules, killed a Griever and just never gave up. And Minho's gone so long believing there's no hope at all, so Thomas breaking all those rules inspires an absolute kind of loyalty in him and you know Minho would follow Thomas anywhere after that. And I think having an OC be there ruins that on a fundamental level; that night is about the two of them, and this experience that no one can touch. And its even more damaging to that if the OC is able to kill the Griever instead, or some other such heroic feat. It's just not an event for another character, in my opinion. (And then there's the overlooked logistical flaw in that Thomas barely got through the Doors before they crushed him; anyone following him through wouldn't have made it in time and been flattened. And they wouldn't have gone first – shouldn't have, anyway – because that act belongs to Thomas alone).

Anyway, I get that OCs can be frustrating. I feel the same way, too, but its worth persevering, because logic says, eventually you'll stumble onto that one in a million that has an OC you like for the right reasons. I'm really glad Eva is an exception for you so far :) As for Eva's coping…whether you like it or not is completely up to you! You're entirely welcome to dislike as much of this story as you like (though it'd probably be a painful read if you did). The main thing is that it makes sense to her as a character, and in some ways, to you as the reader. If it does that, I'm happy :) So, to finish, thank you again for more thoughtful reviews and your high praise on my writing!

Loving it: Two chapters in a go must have been nice! And thank you so much; developing characters is a major hobby of mine and something I feel is very important when you're writing a story anyway, so to hear you think I'm doing it well means a lot! And tell me about it; even when its two canon characters (but admittedly it happens more with OCs), the writing can lack proper development and I always think it leaves any relationship feeling very wooden at best, and disturbing to read at worst. Relationships based in trust, respect, and honesty aren't instant. Relationships based in sex, attraction or convenience are easier to start suddenly, but they have their own host of complications longer term. Anyway, before I get carried away on that tangent, I'm really glad that you feel you can connect with Eva because she's a dimension human being, not an author's tool. Hang in there to see how things develop!

As for me…Its great to hear you like my little insights into writing. I honestly didn't much plan this story at all. I was seized by the idea of building this world – I wanted to look at the Glade as a way of life, and it started there. Eva formed fairly quickly as a viewpoint to that world, and with her, a lot of the mystery of the plot fell into place – why she's there, who she is, and how she's relevant etc. But beyond inventing her and deciding the kind of story I wanted, there was no planning. I just started writing, and some of it fell into place as I went while I had to puzzle out other parts. Everything I know about writing; characters, plots, structure, tools, world building, balance of themes etc – its all self taught based on my own writing experience and a heck of a lot of reading. Books – ones you love and ones you don't will all teach you something about what works and what doesn't.

I've posted stories here before. Some are appalling, because they're that old, but the more recent ones aren't horrific. I'm working on a companion series of this story, as well as some AU one shots of Maze Runner that include Eva. Beyond that, my stories are focused over on deviantArt at the moment; I write stories to accompany my artwork. I am also aiming to publish my own novel, though that's a long way off right now. I'll definitely keep writing something, though! Hope that answers all your questions, and you enjoyed this next chapter!

Falconwanderer13: Since Pming is disabled, I'm responding here :) Thank you so much for your high praise on this story, and I really appreciate you taking the time to review it! Its great to hear you can connect with Eva and you enjoy the development of all their relationships (without, as you said, interfering with fundamental ones between the canon characters. That isn't the intention at all). Hope you continue to enjoy it as we go!